Pouch



Sept. 1, 1936. H. H. HUNTER 2,053,085

POUCH Filed Aug. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z/I I 20 Sept. 1, 1936. H. H. HUNTER POUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1934 34 INVENTOR BY Q ATTORNEY Patented- Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICE POUCH Harry H. Hunter, Arlington, Mass. Application August 1'1. 1934, Serial No. 740,222 6 Claims. (01. 206-41) This invention relates to improvements in pouches, particularly pouches for tobacco, and Y more particularly pouches for the transportation,

, Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive moisture-proof pouch-type package adapted to maintain its original form of a pouch throughout all the normal conditions of transportation, sale and use and which shall afford the buyer or user a substantially full view of its contents at all times.

Another object is to so relate the useful adjunct of a conventional pipe cleaner with a package of smoking tobacco that the cleaner serves to stiffen the package and assists in perfecting a complete seal of the same against loss of the moisture content of the tobacco, and by means' of which the package may be quickly and conveniently given its initial opening aftef'purchase.

It is a further object of the invention to. employ method steps and materials by which a package having some or all of the above characteristics may be quickly and inexpensively produced without necessitating special or costly equipment.

Other objects will be either apparent or particularly pointed out hereinafter.

While the invention in certain of its aspects may involve the use of only a single layer or ply of Cellophane or similar material, the present embodiment, shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, is chiefly centered around the idea of a double ply'laody from which the pouch pocket is formed, as by this method of construction many of the important advantages of the package are obtained.- If, for example, the double ply body is formed by doubling a single strip of the body material upon itself, the fold so. made may be presented as a strong rigid edge for the pocket of the pouch, susceptible to perfect sealing and capable of withstanding all normal conditions of usage. Other folds of the package are maintained more uniform than would be the condition with a single ply body, and the uniformity of these folds is helpful in obtaining and maintaining a moisture-sealing package particularly desirable in connection with smoking tobacco to prevent loss of flavor or aroma which otherwise escapes with the moisture vapor. 5

The doubled strip of body material also lends itself readily to the method of edge binding contemplated by the invention, and a pouch body having a pocket portion and extended long wrapper portion is easily and inexpensively 10 formed.

- Principal aims, therefore, of the invention are to provide an attractive sealed package of smoking tobacco for vending, which may be. easily opened and thereafter carried in the users pocket .15 as a pouch, and to provide a package of high quality tobacco which shall be proof against the admission of dust, oil, air and moisture, and likewise proof against the escape of moisture, even after it has been opened and is being used from'time -to time; thereby preserving the usefulness of the tobacco overa long period.

The accompanying drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and one of various other possible embodiments thereof; also, the steps of the method employed in making up the package.

Fig. -1 is a side edge view of a single strip of thin, flexible, transparent body'material folded upon itself.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the folded strip shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a side edge view of the body material again folded upon itself for a portion of its length 'to form a pocket portion with extended wrapper 35 taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are schematic views indicating the extent to which the pocket is filled with tobacco and the general manner of folding 0 the pocket portion and the wrapper. In these-i, schematic views, for the sake of clearness the multiple ply construction has been disregarded;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are views indicating a preferred manner of making the original seal of the package by the use of a pipe cleaner and a revenue stamp or other sealing strip.

Figs. and 16 illustrate another form of seal for the package, Fig. 15 showing the reverse side or back of the package as customarily arranged for vending and Fig. 16 showing the front of the package.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the package shown in Figs. 12 to 14, the section being taken on the line of Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the package, shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the section being taken on the line-|8|8 of Fig. 16.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, a single strip of thin, flexible, tough, transparent and moisture-resistant material is shown in Fig. 1 at 20 doubled back upon itself lengthwise and creased in a definite transverse line producing an The double ply body so formed is then edge 2|. doubled upon itself for a fraction of its length, as shown in Fig. 3, forming a pocket portion 22 and an extending wrapper portion 23. By this fold whatveventually serves as 'the bottom edge 2l'of the pocket is of two plies of the thin material, and the edge which serves as the topof the pocket is the hard folded-edge 2| produced by the first doubling operation. 1

With the piece as folded in Fig. 3, marginal binding tape is, applied, first theside tapes or strips 25 along the side edges from one end of the folded body to the other, and then the end strips 26 and 21 which are caused to overlap the side strips at the corners as shown at 28 in Fig.

4. This marginal binding tape is preferably highly adhesive on one side and'may be any of a number of moisture-resistant tapes used for sealing or binding. Thesidestrips 25 embrace the two double ply margins of the pocket portion 22 as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, thus effectually sealing the pocket at each side, and also embrace the side margins of the wrapper portion 23, thereby joining the two ply wrapper at each side. The end strip 26 closes the two ply'wrapper at its fiap end, and the end strip 21 defines and reinforces the lower edge of the pocket portion and maintains theends of the side strips in pocket sealing position.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that a pouchpocket is formed and that a long two ply wrapper extends from one side of the pocket (see Figsmtand 8).

1 Smoking tobacco or other material is then de,- posited in the pocket in a predetermined quantity less than sufiicient to completely fill the pocket (Fig. 8) and the pouch body is then again folded in a transverse line substantially at the point 30. In making this fold the upper portions of the pocket walls are pressed closely, together and turned back over the .partly.filled pocket together with the wrapper portion as shown clearly in the schematic view Fig. 9. The actual top edge 2| of the pocket, considering the pouch as it is when filling it or using it to fill a'pipe, is thus turned back over the outwardly bulging wall 3| 1 of the the reverse fold 35 of the pocket wall and the actual top edge 2| of the pocket in its position shipment, storage and vending purposes.

' aosspas opposite the bellied portion of the package as indicated at 36 in Figs. 9 and 18, and from there the wrapper is continued tightly around the package and drawn tightly against the taped bottom edge 24 (Fig. 10) and the prior pocket fold at what may in this condition be considered the top of the package (Fig. 11). The wrapper fiap 38 extends well down over the pocket after it has passed the fold 30, the wrapper thus passing at least completely around the folded pocket containing the filler material.

The thin transparent body is preferably of nonfibrous material such as moisture-proof Cellophane", but it is of course within the scope of the invention that some other material be used having similar or substantially like characteriscontents of the package to. be viewed throughthe material. v

The description thus far is intended as an illustration of the general. manner of forming and wrapping the package irrespective of the particular method of originally sealing the same for It serves also to illustrate the condition of the package in the hands of the user after the original seal has been broken and the package is being used from time to time to withdraw material. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the package, when in the hands of user with the original seal broken, still retains to a high degree its moistu're-res'istant characteristic at the option of the user, and may be carried in his pocket for a long period of time and the contents completely used without the package breaking down or in any way losing its pouch form.

The original sealing of the package may be carried out in various ways, two of which are illustrated in the drawings. A. preferred form of original sealing is shown in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 17. In this form a conventional pipe cleaner 50 having a soft-coated bendable wire has one or both ends.bent out of line as indicated at 5| and the remaining straight body portion 52 laid along thetop of the pocket wall near and substantially parallel to the top edge 2|, as shown in Fig. 12. A sealing strip 53 which is preferably a gumined revenue stamp of standard form required for tobacco packages isthen moistened and applied over the body portion of the pipe cleaner and on both sides thereof along its unbent length. As shown in Fig. 13, the stamp attaches to the upper margin of the pocket wall and to the inner side of the wrapper-and seals the opening of the pocket. This is done before the pocket is folded and subsequently the pocket, and wrapper are folded as described in connection with Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The straight wire portion assists in producing and maintaining an eifective seal, preventing any tendency of. the pocket edge to pleat in the sealing or buckle in packing or transportation, and the wire also provides longitudinal reinforcement of the package. One or the other of the .bent ends jl left uncovered by the sealing strip serves as a means to take hold of the wire and use it to quickly and conveniently mutilate the stamp and simultaneously open the pocket. Thecleaner is of a length with its ends bent that it may then be. deposited lengthwise in the pouch, if desired. .handy for use when needed. 5

Wlththis form of original seal it is'not usual to employ any tie strip or binder for the wrapper.

v the drawings.

' of the doubled-back body closing the sides of the t It has been found that the flap portion of the wrapper if carried sufliciently toward the lower end of the package will conform substantially to the shape of the package and rest in proper position. Optionally, of course, a light rubber band may be applied around the package or a small sticker seal may be used to bind the flap end of the wrapper to the package, thus preventing the possibility of the flap becoming disarranged. Another form of original sealing is shown in Figs. 15,16 and 18. In this form the sealin strip is not applied over the top edge 2| of the pocket and the package is more dependent at all times upon the seals efiected by the folds of the pocket at 30 and the seals effected by the surrounding wrapper at the various regions heretofore mentioned, than is the other package wherein such seals are of mostimportance after the package is in use. As shown clearly in Figs. 15 and 18, after the package body has been folded across the top of the pocket and tightly and completely wrapped, the sealing strip 60, preferably a revenue stamp as in the other form, is applied longitudinally of the package to the wrapper near its flap end, and the ends 6! of the stamp are carried around the ends of the folded pouch and affixed to the wrapper on the other side as shown in Figs. 16 and 18.

The label and notice respectively shown at I0 and H in thedrawings may conveniently be applied as stickers on the transparent strip in such relation and location that when the strip is fold ed they are protected between the layers or plies of the body or between the pocket and the wrapper and are unexposed to the contents'of the package or to the action of anything exteriorly thereof, yet they will'be visible through the transparent material of the body. It is preferred, however, to print these on the Cellophane as their final position may be readily determined inasmuch as the quantity of tobacco in each package is the same and the positions of folds and wrappings are substantially uniform.

Automatic machinery may be used to carry out all of the steps of the method outlined above, but the method is adapted to the rapid and inexpensive production of such packages by hand labor. The package is suited to convenience in shipping, display and vending, and may be carried by the purchaser in his pocket as a shapely, compact pouch adapted to retain the flavor and aroma of the tobacco and without liability of escape of any of the tobacco into his pocket or the admission of foreign matter to the pouch pocket.

It is obvious that should a single thickness of Cellophane" or similar material be used as a body instead of the double ply strip described, the reinforcement afforded by the pipe cleaner and the assistance of it in effecting a perfect seal of the top of the pocket and in providing a ready means of opening the pocket would be of even more importance than in the preferred forms shown in In these formsthe folds of the double plies so average the natural irregularities in the thin material that sufliciently straight and rigid edges are produced. With a single ply body,

reinforcement of some kind is essential and this is conveniently afforded by the combined cleanerand-stamp seal. l

What is claimed is: v I

1. A tobacco pouch package having a-transparent body in which a portion of the transparent body material is doubled back upon itself to form 'a pocket portion with an extending wrapper por'tion, binding tape over the side edges .tobaecdin s pocket, tobacco-in the pocket of less amount than would fill the pocket, that portion of said pocket beyond the tobacco being folded back upon itself and the extending wrapper being carried around the pocket, and means for closing said pocket against original access and adapted to assist in preventing the escape of moisture, comprising a pipe cleaner laid over the top'margin of the pocket and a sealing strip aflixed to said margin and overlying the pipe cleaner and afllxed to a portion of the extending wrapper.

2. A tobacco pouch package having a transparent body in which a portion of the transparent body material is doubled back upon itself to form a pocket portion with an extending wrapper portion, binding tape over the side edges of the doubled-back body closing the sides of the pocket. tobacco in the pocket of less amount than would fill the pocket, that portion of said pocket beyond the tobacco being folded back upon itself .and the extending wrapper being carried around the pocket, and means for closing said pocket against original access and adapted to assist in preventing the escape of moisture, comprising a pipe cleaner laid over the top margin of the pocket and a sealing strip aflixed to said margin and overlying the pipe cleaner and a portion of the extending wrapper, said pipe cleaner having a bent end not entirely covered by said sealing strip.

3. A tobacco pouch package having a transparent body in which a portion of the transparent body material is doubled back upon itself to form a pocket portion with an extending wrapper portion, binding tape over theside edges of the doubled-back body closing the sides of the pocket, tobacco in the pocket of less amount than would fill the pocket, that portion of said pocket beyond the tobacco being folded back upon it- ,self and the extending wrapper being carried the top of the pocket, and an extending wrapper portion, means closing the sides of said pocket and the side and top edges of said wrapper portion, a quantity of tobacco in said pocket less than enough to fill the same, a pipe cleaner on the pocket adjacent said hard-folded edge and a binding strip over said pipe cleaner and secured to the pocket on one side thereof and to the extending wrapper portion on the other side thereof to close said pocket.

5. A smoker's package comprising a body of transparent moisture-resistant material such as Cellophane, formed with a pocket and a long wrapper exte ding-from a wall of the pocket, Q. fi'ocket insufficient to fill the same, and means for- 'closing the walls of the pocket togetherl at the top beyond the tobacco, comprising a pipe cleaner positioned along the top margin of the pocket and a sealing strip overlying the cleaner and secured on opposite side or the same to the margin of the pocket and the adjacent wrapper portion respectively.

6. A smokers package comprising a body of transparent moisture-resistant material such as Cellophane", formed with a pocket and a long wrapper extending from a wall 0! the pocket. tobacco in said pocket lnsumcient to till the same. and means for closing the walls of the pocket together at the top beyond the tobacco; comprlsin: a pipe cleaner positioned along the top margin oi. the pocket and a sealing strip overlying the cleaner and secured on opposite side oi! the same to the margin of the pocket and the adjacent wrapper portion respectively, said cleaner hav ing an oil'set end portion protruding from the HARRYEHUNTER.

sealing strip. 

